Summary: With God’s help, make the most of your mistakes.

TS: We will find in our study of Joshua 9.1-10.15 how God graciously helps us even when we compromise.

Type: Narrative

I. DECEPTION (1-15)

II. REVELATION (16-27)

III. INTERVENTION (1-15)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Inquire of God’s will

• Keep your promises

• Rejoice that God uses our mistakes to bring blessing

Version: ESV

RMBC 13 August 06 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Deceit

A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things when he noticed an older lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued on. Finally he went to the checkout line, but she got in front of him.

"Pardon me," she said, "I’m sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It’s just that you look just like my son, who just died recently."

"I’m very sorry," replied the young man, "is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," she said, "As I’m leaving, can you say ’Goodbye Mother’? It would make me feel so much better."

"Sure," answered the young man.

As the old woman was leaving, he called out, "Goodbye Mother!"

As he stepped up to the checkout counter, he saw that his total was $127.50.

"How can that be?" he asked, "I only purchased a few things!"

"Your mother said that you would pay for her," said the clerk.

Well…

1. Have you ever been conned by someone?

That certainly is the story for this young man.

He was caught in a deception.

And…

2. As we consider today’s text, the leaders of Israel are caught with their guard down.

They are going to be conned.

They are going to have to deal with a deception that is perpetrated on them.

And it should not have happened.

They are at war.

They should have been on the lookout for every kind of attack that might come their way.

But perhaps we can be understanding, for…

3. The Israelites have just experienced another great victory.

They have succeeded in defeating Jericho.

Then they lost at Ai.

Then when they got the sin out of the camp, they had a great victory at Ai, as was just read in the Scripture reading.

But, interestingly, victory can make you vulnerable.

If you are not paying attention, you may end up in a compromising position, which is the very thing that happens to Israel.

So…

4. We will find in our study of Joshua 9.1-10.15 how God graciously helps us even when we compromise.

OUR STUDY:

As we come to these first fifteen verses, I want you to notice that our historian almost seems to be speaking from a Gibeonite point of view.

Listen to the description of the…

I. DECEPTION (1-15)

(1) As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, (2) they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.

(3) But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, (4) they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, (5) with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. (6) And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us." (7) But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?" (8) They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you? And where do you come from?" (9) They said to him, "From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, (10) and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. (11) So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ’Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, "We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us."’ (12) Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. (13) These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey." (14) So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. (15) And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.